Those of you who are saying that it was a correct decision to remove the image, you are missing the point. There are two different questions to be addressed, which are distinctly different. 1) Is the image objectionable? 2) Is it right to remove the image from search results? The answer to 1) is probably in most people's eyes 'yes'. The answer to 2) is that Google should just act as information carrier. Its search engine should rank images (and other media) based on their relevance to the search query at hand. Google may filter images based on a generic filter, such as SafeSearch. given that there is a demand for it and that the filter can be turned off easily. Google should however not interfer with individual results. (Exception: when the law requires them to do so, however in that case the search result should clearly inform the user about this circumstance) The fact that the image made it to the top position, or at least the first page, is a sign that many people have linked to it and in turn increased its rank. Thus it is relevant in some sense. IF it is believed that the image was ranked so highly because of an error in the algorithm, it's the algorithm that should be fixed, not the individual search result. There is a preceding case that was handled by this principle, back when you got George Dubya's page as the top result when searching for "catastrophic failure". What they did then was to modify the algorithm to make so called "Google bombing" more difficult. --- Rant about principles ends here --- --- Personal opinion starts here --- And it is also my opinion that people need to be less sensitive about politically incorrect commentary. If you dislike something go ahead and criticize it. Discuss it. Or ignore it. But don't censor it. (Or call for it to be censored) It's not your damn right to go through life without ever feeling insulted. And remember, no matter how much you dislike the Michelle Obama image, or any other objectionable image, be aware that if you call for it to be censored, your opinion will be the next to be censored.

What Jesapoo said. And I think the risk of evolving bacteria that use the intelligence in the circuit to "take over the world" is very small, since they'll wash all the bacteria away before distribution, and as Jesappo said, do quiality testing.